Just a stone’s throw from the Arctic Circle, Mo i Rana is a large town on the shores of Ranfjorden in Norway’s Nordland county. It was once a hub for boatbuilding and fishing, as well as a market trade centre for the region’s indigenous Sami people. More recently, Mo i Rana has flourished with iron ore mining and boasts several fine museums and historic buildings.

Things to do

Spend a day exploring the centre of Mo i Rana and visit its oldest building, the Mo Church. It was constructed in 1724 at the request of a Norwegian missionary who worked closely with the region’s Sami people. After admiring its whitewashed Neo-Gothic architecture, take the time to explore its cemetery where several World War II victims are buried.

If you’re interested in learning about the flora and fauna of the Arctic Circle, pay a visit to the Rana Museum, which is located in the middle of town. In addition to hands-on exhibits that will appeal to kids, the museum has a cultural department that details the industrial heritage and folk music traditions of the region.

A short drive from the centre of Mo i Rana will take you to another division of the Helgeland Museum, the Stenneset Open-Air Museum. It features more than 25 historical buildings that have been collected from across Rana and offers a unique insight into the region’s lifestyle and traditions over the last 300 years.

Getting around

Mo i Rana Airport is a 15-minute drive from Mo i Rana’s town centre and has flights to destinations across Norway, while trains travelling between Trondheim and Bodø stop at the Mo i Rana railway station. Buses connect destinations throughout Mo i Rana, although the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.